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Biomedical subjects

N Müller

Publications and source records attributed to N Müller.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Tuberculosis in young adults and the elderly. A prospective comparison study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical, bacteriologic, and radiologic features of pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis in young adults and the elderly and determine if any differences exist between both groups. DESIGN: Prospective recruitment of all patients diagnosed as having pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis in British Columbia, Canada. SETTING: A population-based sample from a provincial control program TB registry. PATIENTS: A total of 218 consecutive patients whose conditions were diagnosed between January 1990 and May 1991. We excluded 15 HIV-positive patients whose conditions were diagnosed during this study. INTERVENTION: Standardized data collection of symptoms, bacteriology, and review of radiology by two readers blind to the clinical and epidemiologic data. MAIN RESULTS: There were 142 young adult patients and 76 elderly patients. The young adults had a mean age of 41.2 years and the elderly group had a mean age of 75 years of age. Fever (p = 0.002) and night sweats (p = 0.02) were more common in young adults. In culture-proven disease, hemoptysis, fever, and cough were more common in young adult (p = 0.03, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). There was no difference in the duration of symptoms between the two groups. The odds ratio for cancers other than lung cancer, 3.98 (confidence interval, 1.49, 10.65) in the elderly group was the only significant risk factor to differ between the two groups. Skin test responses to 5TU PPD were positive in 86.2 percent of young adults and 67.6 percent of elderly patients tested (p = 0.03). A total of 79.6 percent of young adults and 88.15 percent of the elderly patients (not significant) were culture positive. Comparison of radiologic findings in young adults vs elderly patients showed no significant differences apart from those with miliary TB 0.7 percent vs 6.7 percent (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, young adults were more likely to have hemoptysis, fever, and cough and to have a positive PPD response. Cancer was significantly associated as a risk factor in the older age group. There was no difference in bacteriologically proven disease or radiologic findings between the two groups, apart from the more common occurrence of miliary TB in the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Results of cell separation with new single needle techniques in comparison with a current dual needle technique].

BACKGROUND: In plateletpheresis, new single-needle techniques have been introduced for the cell separators A 201 and AS 104. These techniques were compared with the well established CS 3000 Plus cell separator, which uses the continuous flow system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Donation time, ACD consumption, platelet yield, separation efficiency, erythrocyte and leukocyte contamination were studied in different protocols with the dual- and single-needle procedure. RESULTS: Total amount of thrombocytes and separation efficacy were lowest with the A 201 device. The separation efficiency was best with the single-needle version of the AS 104 separator due to reprocession of the blood during the return cycle to the centrifuge. Leukocyte contamination was lowest with the standard procedure of the CS 3000 Plus device. CONCLUSIONS: The single-needle technique of the AS 104 blood cell separator resulted in sufficient platelet collection. The purity of the platelet concentrates collected with the A 201 and AS 104 machine has to be improved.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1994

White blood cell depletion of single-donor platelet preparations using the new adsorption filter biofil P 10 BBS.

A newly developed adsorption filter has been evaluated for the removal of white blood cells (WBC) from platelet concentrates obtained by the blood cell separators Fenwal CS 3000 Plus (CS) and Haemonetics PCS Plus (H). WBC mean removal rate was 99.82 +/- 0.21% (H) and 99.58 +/- 0.01% (CS) with a mean WBC yield of (13.68 +/- 21.52) x 10(5) (H) and (0.20 +/- 0.23) x 10(5) (CS). Platelet recovery was 86.11 +/- 6.74% (H) and 83.04 +/- 5.59% (CS). Morphology, integrity and in vitro function parameters were not influenced by the filtration.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1994

White blood cell-reduced platelet concentrates prepared by filtration using the Sepacell PL 5 II/10 II filter.

The further developed adsorption filter Sepacell PL 5/10 II has been evaluated for the white blood cell (WBC) removal from platelet concentrates (PCs) collected using a blood cell separator Fresenius AS 104 (F) or Haemonetics PCS Plus (H). Filtration was carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions by gravity and flow rates of 40-50 ml/min (BT Blood Banking) or 3-5 ml/min (AS Bedside). Mean post-filtration WBC contents under blood bank conditions were (5.63 +/- 6.44) x 10(5) (H) and (0.30 +/- 0.18) x 10(5) (F) for the PL 5 II filter and (3.32 +/- 4.23) x 10(5) (H) and (0.23 +/- 0.05) x 10(5) (F) for the PL 10 II filter; under bedside conditions with low flow rates: (1.31 +/- 1.71) x 10(5) (H) and (0.23 +/- 0.01) x 10(5) (F) for the PL 5 II filter and (0.36 +/- 0.13) x 10(5) (H) and (0.23 +/- 0.01) x 10(5) (F) for the PL 10 II filter. The results suggest that the WBC removal and log reduction correlate with the rates of WBC content of the PCs, the capacity of the filters and the flow rates.

Cytapheresis↗
PubMed1994

Biocompatibility studies of the single-needle technique in plateletpheresis with the Fresenius AS 104 blood cell separator.

To investigate the biocompatibility of the single-needle technique of the Fresenius AS 104 blood cell separator we analyzed coagulation, complement and hemolysis parameters prior to, during and after five thrombocytaphereses. The data were compared with results of the same parameters from identical donors in the dual-needle procedure. The analysis of bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and haptoglobin showed no relevant hemolysis. However, changes of the concentrations of coagulation factors XII and XI indicated an activation of coagulation. This was confirmed by an increase of the thrombin-antithrombin III complex during apheresis. No significant change in the complement split product content of the samples obtained during apheresis was found. Complement factors, glucose, lactate, leukocytes, morphology score and thrombocytes were measured in platelet concentrates. The comparison of the platelet products showed no significant differences except for leukocyte contamination. Glucose and lactate concentrations were similar in both procedures. Levels of complement activation markers were not statistically different.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1994

[In-line-filtration of erythrocyte concentrates using the Sepacell Integra System].

Using the Sepacell Integra System for in-line filtration of red cell concentrates in additive solution the leukocyte depletion was efficient enough to keep leukocyte contamination below the critical immunogenic load for leukocytes (CILL). The data indicate improved storage conditions, made evident by significantly lower cell damage.

Cytapheresis↗
PubMed1994

[Second multicenter study of thrombocytapheresis using the Fresenius AS104 blood cell separator and ring study for quality control of cell counts. Members of the Preparative and Therapeutic Hemapheresis Section of DGTI].

The aim of the 2nd Multicenter study was to evaluate the separation protocol software version V 4.61 of the Fresenius AS 104 cell separator, for separation efficiency, WBC contamination and yield's deviation from prediction. Plateletpheresis data from 12 hemapheresis centers, using identical apheresis protocols and cell counting methods, were registered and statistically analyzed. Additionally, the counting methods of the centers were controlled by a ring study with biweekly cell counts. To get a comparison the apheresis data, which were dependent of the center effects, were corrected by the systematical deviation found in the quality control from the ring study. The results of 935 runs are 47.3 +/- 8.1% for the separation effectivity. 7.2% median deviation from predicted yield, whereby 90% of all runs deviated less than +/- 22% from predicted yields. 50% of products had a WBC contamination below 6 x 10(6), 99% below 5 x 10(7).

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed1994

[Thrombocytapheresis with the new PLT-30 collection chamber in the CS 3000 Plus cell separator].

Eight healthy blood donors underwent paired thrombocytapheresis with the CS 3000 Plus blood cell separator. For each donor, two samples were run: one with the TNX-6 separation and the new PLT-30 collection chamber and one with TNX-6 separation and the A-35 collection chamber. With the PLT 30 chamber, the platelet yield was higher than with the A-35 chamber. Separation efficiency was statistically better with the PLT-30 chamber.

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed1994

[Optimized "baby preserves" of transfusion in premature infants].

For transfusion therapy of premature infants special packed red cells '0 rh-negative, anti-CMV-negative, hemolysin-free' are of great value. To optimize the preparations, we examined the influence of leukocyte depletion, suspension in SAGM and irradiation on ATP level, pH, free hemoglobin and potassium level. Results show the advantage of filtration and SAGM solution especially in respect to the ATP level. Irradiation leads to an increase of potassium to a twofold level, but is not of clinical significance in running time.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1994

[Preparation of leukocyte-reduced platelet concentrates from buffy coats using a novel separation apparatus].

A newly designed equipment of producing white cell-reduced platelet concentrates (PC) from buffy coat (BC) will be briefly described. A special insert and bag holder for centrifugation including a modified expressor (Patent 4205712) for careful drainage of the PC into the transfer bag from BC was developed. PCs prepared with this technique had an average volume of 70.60 +/- 6.44 ml, platelet content of (0.75 +/- 18) x 10(11), WBC content of (0.32 +/- 0.24) x 10(6) per unit, and 4.41 +/- 3.68 WBC/microliter.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Separate nuclear genes encode cytosolic and mitochondrial nucleoside diphosphate kinase in Dictyostelium discoideum.

We have previously isolated cDNA clones for the gip17 gene encoding the cytosolic nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum, and partial cDNAs for guk, a second member of the NDP kinase gene family (Wallet, V., Mutzel, R., Troll, H., Barzu, O., Wurster, B., Véron, M., and Lacombe, M. L. (1990) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 80, 1199-1202). We now characterize genomic DNA clones for both NDP kinase genes, and we show that guk defines a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial NDP kinase. Isolated D. discoideum mitochondria contain 3% of the total cellular NDP kinase activity. Antibodies which specifically recognize and inhibit the activity of either cytosolic or mitochondrial NDP kinase unambiguously distinguish between these activities. The nascent mitochondrial NDP kinase contains a presequence of 57 amino acids that is removed during import into the organelle as shown by determination of the NH2 terminus of the mature protein from mitochondria. The genes for mitochondrial and cytosolic NDP kinases contain four and two introns, respectively. The positions of the of the introns in the gene for the cytosolic enzyme match exactly the positions of the second and fourth introns in the coding region of its mitochondrial homologue. From these results we conclude that the isozymes diverged from a common ancestor, and we discuss possible phylogenetic pathways for the evolution of cytosolic and organelle NDP kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Impairment of retinal increment thresholds in Huntington's disease.

We have investigated detection thresholds for a foveal blue test light using a Maxwellian view system in 61 normal subjects, 19 patients with Huntington's chorea, 14 patients with Tourette's syndrome, and 20 patients with schizophrenia. Ten measurements were made: The blue test light (1 degree diameter, 500 msec duration) was presented either superimposed on a yellow adaptation field (5 degree diameter) or 500 msec after switching off this field (transient tritanopia effect). In both cases five different background intensities were presented. The only abnormality found was in patients with Huntington's chorea. During adaptation these patients' thresholds are significantly higher than normal (p < 0.005). No change was found in the transient tritanopia effect. Huntington's disease causes degeneration of several different transmitter systems in the brain. Increment threshold testing allows for noninvasive investigation of patients and confirms the involvement of the retina in the degenerative process in Huntington's chorea.

Adaptation, Ocular↗
PubMed1993

Cellular immunity, HLA-class I antigens, and family history of psychiatric disorder in endogenous psychoses.

We found an increased lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation with an antigen "cocktail" in 49 schizophrenic patients and 37 patients suffering from affective psychosis, compared with 45 healthy control subjects. On the basis of this and other findings such as increased numbers of CD3+ and CD4+ cells, an increased ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells, and a reduced level of suppressor cell activity in schizophrenia and endogenous depression, we investigated the influence of the human leukocyte antigen-Class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C) system on the altered immune function and evaluated the relationship to immune function of a family history of psychiatric disorders. A cluster analysis of cases with regard to the HLA-Class I antigens was first performed in a group of 133 healthy control subjects, and two immunogenetically different clusters were found; then 86 patients (49 schizophrenics, 37 affective psychoses) for whom immune functional data were available were assigned to the two HLA-I clusters that had been determined in the control subjects. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) showed no differences in immune function between the two clusters. With respect to the cluster assignment and the family history of psychiatric diseases, a two-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in the lymphocyte response to the antigen cocktail, in the number of CD8+ cells, and in one suppressor cell assay. When patients were compared by ANOVA on the basis of family history of psychiatric disorder, patients with a positive family history showed a significantly higher number of CD4+ cells and a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Moreover, certain HLA genes, especially HLA-A1, HLA-B8, HLA-B16, and HLA-C2 seemed to be related to the immune function and/or to the immune function and the family history.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Investigations of the cellular immunity during depression and the free interval: evidence for an immune activation in affective psychosis.

1. Results of investigations of the immune function in affective disorders are conflicting. Some authors described an immune suppression, others an immune activation in major depression. The authors performed a study of cellular immunity in the MDD subtype endogenous depression. 23 patients suffering from endogenous depression were investigated during the depressive state, the results were compared with a group of 14 patients during the free interval and 51 healthy controls. 2. The lymphocyte proliferation after incubation with diphtheria- and tetanus toxoid, mainly stimulating T-cells, was reduced but after incubation with an antigen-cocktail, stimulating both, T- and B-cells, was increased in patients during depression and during the free interval compared to controls. 3. The CD3(+)- and CD4(+)-cells were significantly enhanced in both groups of patients while the CD8(+)-cells showed no differences to the controls. The ratio CD4+/CD8+ was increased in patients, too, as described in some autoimmune disorders. 4. The suppressor cell activity was significantly reduced in the PWM-assay and in the PHA-assay. The mixed lymphocyte culture showed a tendency to reduced suppressor cell activity as well. 5. The results point to an immune activation and to a disturbed control of the proliferative activity in affective psychosis. A T-cell related defect, not compensated by an increased number of CD3+- and CD4+ -cells is discussed. 6. From our point of view, the conflicting results of psychoneuroimmunological investigations in depressive disorders may be related to etiologically different subgroups of depression. The diagnostic category of MDD is possibly one of the traps in psychoneuroimmunology.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Improvement of separation efficiency and concentrate purity of the Fresenius cell separator AS 104: results of a multicenter study. Haemapheresis Scientific Workshop Group of DGTI.

The aim of this multicenter study, initiated by the Haemapheresis Scientific Workshop Group of the DGTI was to evaluate separation protocols for the cell separator AS 104, marketed by Fresenius, using modified software and parameters which were believed to allow a more effective platelet collection with a significantly lower leukocyte contamination of the concentrates. Plateletpheresis data from 950 runs in ten hemapheresis centers, using virtually the same equipment, identical pheresis protocols, and cell counting methods were registered and statistically analyzed for each center and machine-related differences. Additionally, the counting methods of the centers were controlled by bi-weekly external cell count trials, and the plateletpheresis data were corrected using the results of these cell count trials, to obtain a comparison of the two versions of the protocol independent of the center effect. For protocol (or software version) 4.1, 610 runs were registered. The results of cell countings (chamber) are (given as means+/-standard deviations) 3.452x10 11+/-1.009x10 11 for the platelet yield (or thrombocyte yield), 9x10 6+/-23x10 8 for leukocyte contamination, and 17x10 6+/-70x10 6 for the erythrocyte contamination, and 53%+/-13.5% for the extraction efficiency, respectively. For software version 4.4 with 340 runs, the results are 3.642x10 11+/-0.974x10 11 for the platelet yield, 15x10 6+/-74x10 8 for leukocyte contamination, 20x10 6+/-44x10 6 for erythrocyte contamination, and 59%+/-12.4% for the extraction efficiency, respectively. For the leukocyte and erythrocyte contaminations, the means and standard deviations must be interpreted carefully since the statistical distribution showed a considerable skewing of the data. From the automatic counts, marginally smaller means were found. The data were corrected by the values from the ring study; and for these mathematically corrected data, statistical tests showed a significant improvement in the extraction efficiency from software version 4.1 to 4.4. At the same time, the leukocyte contamination was significantly lower with version 4.4.

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed1993

EEG mapping investigations of psychomotor and music perception brain dysfunction in untreated schizophrenic patients.

Twenty-six untreated schizophrenic inpatients and 34 control persons were investigated using 16-channel EEG mapping during resting, manumotor and music perception tasks. Power values of activation tasks were each referenced to a separate, immediately preceding resting condition, using conventional delta, theta, alpha and 2 beta frequency bands. Results in delta and alpha bands, which maximally separated the two groups, are reported only for space reasons. Results indicated a "nonreactivity" (in all frequency bands) on the two activation paradigms in schizophrenic patients as a group. Major gender effects were obtained in normal persons, but not signs of nonreactivity comparable to patients. Subdividing patients exclusively by means of their EEG changes on activation produced meaningful clinical subgroups of "positive/negative" schizophrenics. This latter finding could contribute towards clinical utility of EEG mapping in psychiatry.

Adult↗